Features, THX Ultra approval, Remote, Looks (Gold version stunning)

No system off timer, miss multi room capability, plastic front door

After comparing a number of products from: Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, Onkyo and the listening to the VSX-D908TX-G, I wa sold. For just on AUS$2,000, this receiver is excellent value for money and very feature laden. Well written manual, great macro learning and easy to use remote control, extensive control over speaker settings via remote and on screen menus etc, etc.

A great match for the Pioneer 717 DVd player I have also in gold (although, the DVD's front panel is actually metal/aluminium and not plastic as is the case with the VSX-D908TX-G.)

The Australian model appears to be the samebase unit as the US model, but we get THX Ultra certification making our model closer/same as one of the Pioneer Elite models sold in the USA.(No Elite's sold downunder).

The sound is strong and clear (VAF DC-X fronts,VAF DC1 rears, Aaron sub & center) and even the DSP modes that I normally do not like much, sound good and different enough from each other so as to be usefull.

Try it, buy it and enjoy it!

Sound Power, Remote, EasyToUse, Looks (!),

I don´t understand the question, NONE !

Good sound quality, great pump in each channel. I think it´s doin´ great in 2-ch. Good DSP-effects (are usally "crap") which i´m using in STEREO-MODE. A great match for my DVD-717 (both in GOLD). The remote control is VERY good, easy to program (learning-functionality)and easy to use. THX-certified for only 1140$ (!!!!!) and with blasting DTS.


Go on and buy it.....

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR-3300

HT Sound, Stereo DNR, Remote, connectivity, THX Ultra

Speaker Post too close together. Unit rated power consumption is 1000W (seems like a misprint in manual)

Originally looked in the sub $AUS1500 range (see above) and were impressed with the Marantz Sr5000. By chance the shop had a marked down (new in unopen box) VSX-D908TX-G for $AUS1663.00. After listening to and reading the reviews, the amp was a must have bargin (list $AUS2600).

Well not owning a DVD yet (waiting for 535 Pioneer to be relaesed), i can only comment on CD and ProLogic THX Mode. Speaker set up are VAF DC-7 (Fronts), DC-6 Center and DC-1 (Rears) (See www.vaf.com.au). Set up is straight forward and balancing required no real effort.

Sound: THX Pro Logic - The best way to describe this amp is it produces a clean natural sound. Detailed sounds are delivered crisp, clear (VAF helps here), and action sequences are panned beautifully across the front sound stage. My wife (who believes HT is a waste of $$) was totally impressed with the sounds from "Snow Falling on Cedar" in THX. She felt that she was in the forest or on a boat with the creaks, groans and delicate water lapping sounds (wait till she hears DVD).

CD: Does justice to Good Quality CD such as The Wall and Dire Straits, friend comment on how precise the sound is. On bog standard CD recordings the sound is .. well bog standard.

Remote is a snap to use and program. It controls my Panasonic 79cm Flat Screen (TX79P100Z), CD Player (Sony), Panasonic VCR. The learning and Macro are a bonus.

Looks - Not that i care too much, but it does looks impressive.

The DSP settings are pretty standard affair. The Theater DSP (1 and 2) are great as well as THX. Hall 1 & 2) are ok for Cricket commentary for TV. The Digital NR is excellent for FM Radio or CD Music.

Overall, the unit is great. I'm exspecting this beast to deliver DD and DTS DVD Sound that will blow me away. More on that later, once the DVD is online.

Similar Products Used:

Reviewed Marantz SR5000, Denon 1600, Onkyo 575

Ample power, killer theater, smart design, easy to operate

Needs an equalizer for analog media

The 908 is an outstanding amp for the price. It’s closest competitors listed above with comparable sonic fidelity and features sell for an average $200 to $300 more. For DVD audio reproduction it has no equal in its price range. DTS, forget about it, it’s nothing short of phenomenal. It’s got 5 theater settings, 6 if you count the Ultra THX and each is nicely distinguishable from the next. It’s not loaded down with a million “hokey” DSP settings. There are 5, out of those I use 2, but I still prefer the sound of the normal two channel stereo setting. My only complaint is that with any analog signal the receiver tends to sound flat, an equalizer is a must, which means you have to manually set the tape monitor every time you go between a digital and an analog source. As a result, the remote really needs a tape monitor function. This amp can’t compete with single function high end amps, but it has superb AV performance and functionality to that end it succeeds exceptionally well.

Matched with (Great combination):
Onkyo M5200 150W power amp powers Magnat Vector 77s Main Fronts
The 908 powers Magnat Vector 22s Aux Fronts
Vector 22s Rears
Magnat Alpha 25 Sub
Bose VCS 10 Center channel

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo TXDS777, Yamaha RX-V2095, Sony STR-V555ES

High Power, very nice sound, THX filters, good remote, high quality build.

None other than the static hiss that this and every other digital reciever/amplifier/decoder has (at least the ones I've tried: Sony, Onkyo, Denon, Yamaha, etc.).

First off I have to say that the version Morten and I have tried is european version of the VSX-D908 (VSX-908RDS), which is more similar to the american VSX-27TX.

The review that states that the power rating of this receiver is more like a 5x55W can be found at:
http://www.homecinemachoice.com/
Something is definitly wrong with either their test or their sample receiver. You might ask yourself why I belive this. The reason is:
1: On their page they also have a test of the Pioneer VSX-808RDS (weighs about half of what the 908 does), and they actually masure a higher power output from this 808 than from the 908. If this was true, Pioneer would not only house extremly bad engineers, but also a very poor marketing division (They would have noticed this right away and used the poweramps of the 808 and saved a load of money).

2: I have had the oportunity to measure a couple of Pioneer amps, and both of them rated excatly (or actually a bit higher) as they were spec'ed (just as the 808 on audioreview matches the specs).

3: I have read a very thorrow review of the 908 in the german magazine "Audio" and they make some very serious measurements at different impedances and with different load phases. Their messurement said that the output power of this receiver was 2x200W or 5x135W (there ratings were at 4 Ohms, so it is not possible to make a apples and apples comparison).

OK thats my reason for believing that HCC have an error somewhere (along with the fact that I know that my 908 goes louder than the Denon AVR-3300 which is rated the same (and the fact that I never have run out of power on this puppy)).

Now comes the funny thing: In the current issue of "Audio", there is a comparison of a Denon AVC10SE (more or less identical with the american 4800) and the Pioneer VSA-08 (more or less an amplifier only version of the 908, which also includes preamped EX outputs). They have measured both of these amplifiers, and yes, the Denon has by far the highest output at 8 Ohms (it is also rated higher). But as soon as the impedance drops a little below 6 Ohms, the Pioneer is very stable, whereas the Denons power rating drops dramatically. This surgests that the Pioneer amp is a lot more stable than the Denon amplifier.

Anyways, I can only give my recommendation of this amplifier, it sounds great, and have enough power regardless of what any test says.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo TX-DS676(Don't buy it - it sounds awfull), Denon AVR-3300, Sony STR-DB940 etc..